Convertible sandwich package



July 9, 1968' w. A. KASPAR 82 CONVERTIBLE SANDWICH PACKAGE Filed Sept. 1, 1966 United States Patent 3,391,782 CONVERTIBLE SANDWICH PACKAGE William A. Kaspar, 1000 Lake Shore Drive,

Chicago, II]. 60611 Filed Sept. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 576,699 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A convertible food package formed from a unitary blank of foldable sheet material having a central panel, and a pair of side webs with locking tongues at their extremities. The package also has a bottom web, gusset means joining the side webs and the bottom web, a cover panel, the side webs and the bottom web being bendable along scored lines to form a well. The locking tongues of the side webs are engaged when the well is formed and the top panel is bendable along scored lines adapted to form a cover for the well and when bent within the well to provide means to withdraw food from the well.

This invention relates to a convertible sandwich package whereby a sandwich may be carried within a closed, sanitary package which then converts by folding a cover into an extracting sandwich holder.

.In general, this invention is concerned with a blank of sheet material which may carry a printed message. It is adapted to be folded along scored lines to form a sandwich package. Specifically, the blank is divided into side webs or flaps, a bottom web, a cover panel and a central panel which fold to form a package.

One use of the convertible sandwich package would be in drive-in restaurant operations involving the sale of hamburgers, sandwiches, pies and the like, for carryout. The package in closed form provides insulation to maintain the temperature of its contents.

The package is especially adapted for carry-out operations. For example, it is often required that the hamburgers be prepared prior to sale and kept heated over a period of time. Under these circumstances, the package in its open sandwich holding position would be used to support the hamburger in a vertical position in proximity to heat lamps designed to maintain the hamburgers heated. The gussets provide a means to hold the juices from the hamburger within the package.

It is contemplated that the size of the sheet of blank material be adjusted to the size of the food product. The spring in the sandwich or hamburger exerts an outward pressure to keep the package together. An oversized package would tend to allow the bottom web to separate from the rest of the package.

The package is formed from the flat blank of sheet material in a matter of seconds. Assembly from a flat blank is desirable, as this minimizes volume in storage and shipment of the package.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible sandwich package as above.

A further object of this invention is to provide a convertible sandwich package which is inexpensive and can be discarded after use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a convertible sandwich package which can be quickly assembled from a blank, serve as a cover for a sandwich and then form a holder and pull for the sandwich while it is being eaten.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially assembled elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the invention assembled as a sandwich holder; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the invention assembled as a sandwich cover package.

In FIG. 1 can be seen the blank of sheet material 10 formed of paperboard or plastic. A central panel 11 is defined by oppositely extending side webs 12 with a locking tongue 16 at their extremities. Side webs 12 are separated from the central panel 11 by side scoring 18.

A convertible top panel 20 having a pull tab 22 extends from this central panel 11. At the opposite end of the central panel, there is formed a bottom web 24 having a pair of gussets 26 connecting the side webs 12 and a bottom panel 30 of the bottom web 24.

FIG. 2 shows the invention in partially assembled form as a sandwich holder and in FIG. 3 the sandwich holder is shown in completely assembled form.

In operation the top panel 20 is folded along multiple scoring 21 so that it is adjacent the central panel 11 and the bottom panel 24. Extra length is achieved from the top panel 20 to perform a pulling or extracting function while the sandwich is being eaten by side slits 38. The top panel 20 is folded around the sandwich along the multiple scoring 21. The bottom web 24 is then folded up along the top panel such that gussets 26 rise. A top section 28 of the bottom web folds along the top of the sandwich and a bottom section 30 of the bottom web 24 forms an end for said package.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 the gussets 26 form a well for drippings from the sandwich as it is being held in an upright position. The side webs 12 are then folded over the top of the sandwich and the locking tongues 16 engaged. FIG. 3 shows the assembled sandwich holder with the pull tab 22 projecting above the side webs 12. As the sandwich is eaten the pull tab may be pulled toward the open end 44 and thus remove the sandwich 46 from the package.

FIG. 4 discloses the convertible sandwich package assembled in closed form. This is accomplished by folding the blank as above, with the exception that the convertible top panel 20 is not folded along a central panel 11. When the side webs 12 have been engaged by their locking tongues 16-, the convertible top panel 20 is folded over the end of the sandwich 46- and the pull tab 22 inserted in the off-center slot 40.

Any suitable form of sheet material may be used, such as paper, paperboard, plastic or foil. If desired, the sheet material may carry a printed message.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I therefore desire, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A convertible food package formed from a unitary blank of fold-able sheet material, comprising a central panel, a pair of side webs with locking means at their extremities, a bottom web, gusset means joining said side webs and said bottom web, a cover panel, said side webs and said bottom web being bendable along scored lines to form a well, said locking means of said side webs being engaged when the well is formed and said top panel bendable along scored lines adapted to form a cover for said well and when bent within the well to provide means to withdraw food from the well.

2. In a convertible food package, the combination recited in claim 1 wherein said cover panel includes a pull tab adapted to engage a locking slot in one of said side Webs to secure said package in the covered position.

3. In a convertible food package, the combination recited in claim 2 wherein said pull tab is engaged in an off-center slot in said side web.

4. In a convertible food package, the combination recited in claim 1 wherein said gusset means form a recess for drippings.

5. In a convertible food package, the combination re cited in claim 1 wherein said blank is paperboard.

6. In a convertible food package, the combination recited in claim 1 wherein said blank is polystyrene plastic.

7. In a convertible food package, the combination recited in claim 1 wherein said side web locking means" are overlapping tongues.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1945 Greenleaf -s 206-46 XR 10/1961 Powers 20646 XR 

